Preparatory

St George’s

Preparatory

St George’s

Preparatory

St George’s

Preparatory

Preparatory

St George’s Preparatory, fondly referred to as St George’s Prep, caters for boys and girls from Grade 1 to Grade 7 and offers small classes (no more than 25 per class). The Prep’s flexible, innovative approach to education ensures that every child enjoys all the attention and stimulation necessary to make learning a rewarding journey of discovery.

The goal of St George’s Prep’s is to keep pace with significant social and technological developments, motivating an overall standard of academic excellence. The Prep follows a traditional syllabus, but is not syllabus-bound, thereby freeing teachers and pupils to explore important social, ethical and environmental issues. Each classroom is equipped with an interactive SMART board and in 2012 the Prep was awarded SMART Showcase School status. IPads were introduced in 2013, adding an extra dimension to the classroom.

Sporting, cultural and outdoor activities form an integral part of the holistic approach to education at St George’s. In sport the emphasis is on participation and our pupils are fortunate to have access to professional coaches. Many of our pupils are selected to represent Eastern Province in various sporting codes.

The Prep has a strong tradition of participation in the arts. We have a dedicated music school and pupils have the opportunity to take Trinity College London exams in Music and Drama. Our art studio and drama studio are housed in our newly built state-of-the-art Arts & Media Centre.

Educational Philosophy and Aspiration

The lay of the learning land!

A child’s school life is a never-to-be-repeated experience.

Parents look to us at St George’s Prep to endow their children for the uncertain future. Daily challenges redefine children’s understanding of the world and their place in it. We aim to create a ‘magical’ journey where they enjoy the ride in ‘smart’ classrooms and to give our children a South African flavour and relevance woven into a tapestry of 1st World academic standards. One which is relevant to this generation and for the good of all who come daily to this astonishing place we simply call ‘school’.

School for us is all about growing children, we must be mindful of the fact that each child’s school experience is dynamic, multi-dimensional, busy and complex as we endeavour to provide them with diverse experiences. We are focused on providing the essential skills and facilitating each child’s quest to make sense of their world in the broader sense. While academic achievement is important and we aspire to provide sound academic programmes and observe achievement levels – this does not divert us from growing individuals. We strive to seek the individual amongst the group.

Our core business is to encourage our children to be voluntarily active in a dynamic learning society and to equip them with the skills and knowledge-cognitive and cultural, social and linguistic, that has power and salience in the world.

The cornerstones that we embrace and believe young people should be guided towards acquiring for themselves are the principles of: success, accountability, inquiring attitudes, fostering of a positive self-image and high aspirations. These are guided within an academic programme which holds dear the pursuit of excellence and which seeks to work creatively whilst remaining ‘rooted’ in state-imposed curricular. Whilst we are part of a national education system that has undergone transformation, we believe that we must always hold on to what must be our very reason for existence as a school: academic rigour, a spirit of enquiry, a joy of learning.

Our quest is for all children to feel at home and to encourage them to be active learners with the emphasis on encouraging self-motivation, self-discipline and self-directed learning. To offer an education that will prepare our children to cope with changes that will increase in complexity throughout their lives and many which cannot be foreseen at this time. Our role is that of building self-belief and emotional intelligence, stewarding the intellect, providing a balance and scaffolding until it is no longer required.

Teaching children in a natural co-educational environment prepares them for life. This natural context facilitates healthy gender interaction and creates a balanced curriculum.

If we can furnish our children with the skills of managing their own learning long after they have left our sanctuary, we would have given them some precious tools for life.